Improvement in construction of fences



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

C. S. S. GRIFFING, OF ASHTABULA, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION OF FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,848, dated May 24,1864.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, C. S. S. GRIFFING, of Ashtabula, in the county ofAshtabula and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvementsin the Construction of Fences; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and complete description of the construction andoperation ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalsection, and Figs. land 5 are detached parts.

Like letters referto like parts in the several views.

The nature of my invention relates to the mode of fastening the panelstogether, of fastening the panels to the base 0r foundation, and to thebrace t'or adjusting and keepi ig the fence in an upright position.

ln-the accompanying drawings, A represents the lower rail ofthe panel,and I3 rep lesents the upper rail. The lower rail may be. of one or morepieces. The bars or pickets are shown at O. and are mortised into theunder side of the upper rail and into the upper side ot' the lower rail.The upper rails have their ends secured in opposition t each other bymeans of a metallic clasp, D, which embraces both, as seen in Fig. 2.The upper edges ot' the ends of the lower rail are in like mannersecured by a metallic clasp, E. Screws or nails a are inserted into theedge of the clasp, so as to render the attachment more secure. The loweredge ot' the lower rails have ends embraced each by a metallic clasp, FF, which are secured to the rails by screws or pins a. Each ot' theclasps F has projecting from the bottom a cone-shaped lug, c, in formlike the vertical section of the frustum of a cone inverted or havingits base upward and attached to the clasp. These clasps F F are situatedclose to the end of the rails in such a manner that the two lugs meet,as shown i1 Fig. 4, leaving an opening in the center for the screw-bolthereinafter to be described. A thimble, G, with a cone-shaped holethrough its center, embraces both the lugs, bringing them into closecontact with each other. A screw-bolt, H, passes from above downwardthrough the center of the clasp E and between the clasps F F, betweenthe lugs c e, and through the thimble G and into the hase I. The lugs cmay be omitted, and the clasps F F made in one piece and resting uponthe thimble G in the same Way as though the lugs were used. A nut may beinserted into the base to receive the screw of the screw-bolt H, or itmay be screwed directly into the base. By this action ot' the screw thethimble is firmly pressed upon the lugs c on clasps F, and forms thesupport for the fence upon the base, thus allowing the fence to beadjusted into a vertical posture; and should the base at any time changeits position the fence can be readily readjusted and retained inposition by means ofthe brace presently to be described; but in doingthis it will be rst necessary to loosen the screwbolt H in order toallow the adjustment to be made, after which the screw can be againtightened.

In order to retain the fence in any desired position, Iconstruct ajointed brace, J, which is attached to the upper clasp, D, by means of abolt or screw. The lower end of this brace is detached from the shaft J,as seen at J', and by being turned at right angles, as shown in Fig. 5,is driven into or otherwise secured to the base l. Where the twosections of the brace J J meet, the ends are swaged so as to form a.corresponding series of teeth and notches that fit readily t0- gether,as shown at d in Fig. 5. and these notches and teeth are so adjusted asto bring the fence to an upright position. A thimble or sleeve, K, isthen shoved over the point of union, which secures the two sections ot'the brace firmly together. Should the fence at any time get thrown, fromany cause, from a vertical position, by shoving the sleeve K up, asshown in Fig. 5, the brace can be adjusted to the desired point andagain secured as at first.

The clasps D, E, and F may be closed, as indicated at b, Fig. 3, or theymay be open, as shown at D, Fig. 3.

What 1 claim as my improvement, and der sire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

The cltsps D E F, thimble Gr, brace J J', and sleeve K, the severalparts being constructed, arranged, and operatingas and for the purposeset forth.

2. The adjusting-brace J J' and sleeve K, when constructed and operatingas described.

C. S. S. GRIFFING Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, I. HOLMES,

